Three Point Calendar for today

Theme: Moses Prays for his People
God Point: Numbers 21:4-9
Prayer Point: For our clergy
Service Point: Send a card or call your clergy in appreciation

Morning Prayer

Every morning mercies new
Fall as fresh as morning dew;
Every morning let us pay
Tribute with the early day:
For your mercies, God, are sure;
Your compassion does endure.

Still the greatness of your love
Daily does our sins remove;
Daily, far as east from west,
Lifts the burden from the breast;
Gives unbought to those who pray
Strength to stand in every day.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
O LORD God of hosts,
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
--Psalm 80:3-5

Lord God,
you are the creator and preserver of all,
God I humbly bring to your throne of grace all sorts and conditions of people;
make your ways known unto them,
make known your love to all nations.
More especially I pray for your Church;
that this body of Christ may be so guided by your good Spirit,
that all who profess your name
and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth,
and hold fast to their faith
May they find unity of spirit,
May they find joy in the bond of peace,
May they find eternal life in your righteousness.
Finally, I bring before you all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed,
in mind, body, or spirit;
comfort them and relieve them their burdens;
Give them patience under their sufferings.

Thanks be to you, Lord God,
Who will turn our tears into joy
And who will reclaim our lives and bear our sufferings.
All praise be to you.
Amen.

Three Point Calendar for Today

Theme: The Temple of His Body
God Point: John 2:19-22
Prayer Point: For our worship committee
Service Point: Donate Stuffed Animals to the Fire Department

Three Point Calendar for today

Theme: Overturn the Tables
God Point: John 2:13-18
Prayer Point: For the courage to speak against injustice
Service Point: Purchase a package of underwear to give to Woman and Children's Shelter

Remember:
Tomorrow is the Grayson Day of Service

A Prayer of St. Patrick

A Prayer of St. Patrick

I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
his baptism in the Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spiced tomb;
his riding up he heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.


I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet "Well done" in judgement hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors' faith, apostles' word,
the patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.
But we, in nature’s latest hour, O Lord, will cling to Thee!

Three Point Calendar for today

Theme: Christ Crucified
God Point: I Cor. 1:22-25
Prayer Point: For the courage to proclaim Christ
Service Point: Write a letter to someone telling of your experiences with Christ

Morning Prayer
Wake my soul with all things living
thanks be giving to the Source of life and day
Sunlight comes and gone confusion,
night's illusion, like the starlight
fades away.

Cry for help, when griefs assail you,
good friends fail you, life seems hopeless, death appears.
One whose child knew deep affliction,
crucifixion,
ever waits to dry your tears.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8, 9

In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
let me never be ashamed.
In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free;
incline your ear to me and save me.
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe;
you are my crag and my stronghold.
Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
For you are my hope, O LORD God,
my confidence since I was young.
I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
from my mother's womb you have been my strength;
my praise shall be always of you.
-- Psalm 71:1-7

Almighty God,
Your own Son had nowhere to lay his head:
Be with those who live alone today so that they may not be lonely in their solitude,
Help them live according to your example and follow in your steps,
May they find fulfillment in loving you and
May they find fulfillment in the love of their neighbors.

For those in the hospital today

Dearest Lord,
Be with us and be the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers:
Mercifully accept our prayers,
And give to those suffering the help of your power,
that their sickness may be turned into health,
and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sanctify those whom you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing,
and to the prevention of disease and pain.
Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit,
that by their ministries
the health of the community may be promoted
and your creation glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please Support Grayson Day of Service

On Saturday March 18th is our Grayson Day of Service. If you haven't signed up yet, there is still time! Fill out a form either at lunch today or at Wednesday night supper. Thanks!

Three Point Calendar for today

Theme: Foolishness
God Point: I Cor. 1:18-21
Prayer Point: For the wisdom to act a fool
Service Point: Give sacrificially to a scholarship fund or the children’s home

From Wesley's notes on 1 Corinthians
God the Other Who Acts Otherwise by Leander Keck
Looking Like Fools by Will Willimon

Remember: Today is our Lenten Lunch!

Morning Prayer

North and south and east and west
May your ho-ly Name be blessed;
Everywhere- beneath the sun,
As in heav'n, your will- be done.

Give us food that we may live;
Every thoughtlessness please forgive;
Keep all e-vil things away
From your people here- today.

Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Long may he live!
and may there be given to him gold from Arabia;
may prayer be made for him always,
and may they bless him all the day long.
May there be abundance of grain on the earth,
growing thick even on the hilltops;
may its fruit flourish like Lebanon,
and its grain like grass upon the earth.
May his Name remain for ever
and be established as long as the sun endures;
may all the nations bless themselves in him and call him blessed.
Blessed be the Lord GOD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds!
And blessed be his glorious Name for ever!
and may all the earth be filled with his glory. Amen. Amen.
-- Psalm 72: 15-19

God,
You made me in your own image,
You redeemed me through your Son.
Look with compassion on all of us,
The whole human family;
Take away arrogance and hatred that infects our hearts;
Break down the walls that separate us;
Unite us and bind us together in bonds of love;
work through our struggle and confusion
So that your purpose on earth will be done.

Dearest Lord,
You cared for all who came to you
Each in their own season.
Rain your compassion down on all who suffer,
Those who are ill, even to the point of death,
Those who cannot find the strength for one more day,
Those who are overwhelmed with responsibilities,
Those who cannot imagine being free to take responsibility,
Those who through addiction have lost their health and freedom
Those who mourn.
Restore to us the assurance of your unfailing mercy;
Restore to us the knowledge of your grace,
Restore to us the comfort of your love,
Remove from us the fears that overwhelm us;
Strengthen us in the work of our own redemption,
Give to us patient understanding and persevering love. Amen.

Three Point Calendar for today

Theme: Sweeter Than Honey
God Point: Psalm 19
Prayer Point: Of thanksgiving for God's Word and those who serve in worship services
Service Point: Purchase a Bible to give away

Three Point Calendar for Today

Theme: Commandments
God Point: Exodus 20:1-17
Prayer Point: For an obediant heart and our Lay Leadership Committee
Service Point: Write a card to someone you need to be reconciled.

Family Promise A Success!

Our 1st Host Week was a success - no major problems were reported - Praise the Lord!! The families truly appreciated all the kindness expressed by our volunteers and were most grateful for the shelter of our new building and the delicious meals prepared by our many volunteers. Thank you again for ALL your contributions to this local outreach program!

Here is some feedback shared with Regan and I following our 1st week hosting experience:

Check with our Guests the week before our Host week to determine any meal requests. Share these requests with our volunteers preparing meals for our host week and ask they do their best to accommodate as many of the food items as reasonably possible. Our guests have so little control or influence in their daily living activities while in the Family Promise network, that giving them the opportunity to have input into their meal choices is truly a blessing. Regan and I will do our best to incorporate this task in our next host week planning.
Smoking Cessation Program - add an optional smoke enders type program for our guests to participate in during their stay in the Network that will help them quit this expensive and unhealthy habit. This will help our guests provide a healthier living environment for their children when they leave the network, as well as help improve their financial position. This feedback was shared with Brent Bohanan (network director) and he agreed to add this to the network's training program curriculum.

We truly appreciate your thoughts and opinions on how we can make your hosting experience as easy and comfortable as possible. Please let Regan and I know of any additional suggestions/feedback you would like to share from your recent experience.

May God Bless!

Regan Wooley
Dot Desjardin
Grayson UMC Family Promise Co-Coordinators

Today's Three Point Calendar

Theme: Transfiguration
God Point: Mark 9:2-9
Prayer Point: For growth, Dave, our Youth Minister, our Youth and their Leaders
Service Point: Volunteer to help at Youth or help with a snack supper

Today's Three Point Calendar

Theme: Cost of Discipleship
God Point: Mark 8:31-38
Prayer Point: For a servant's heart and our nuture committee
Service Point: Give blood and recall the cross.

Ken's last day

Today is Ken Matthew's last day with us as our receptionist. Please stop by and tell him thanks and goodbye!

Today's Three Point Meditation

Theme: Hoping Against Hope
God Point: Romans 4:13-25
Prayer Point: For hope for the future and for our long range planning
Service Point: Make a UMCOR Health kit or Flood Bucket

What does it mean to hope against hope?
Sermon by Revd Canon Dr Graeme Garrett
Listening to the text at Preacher's Magazine
The Right to Hope, a sermon by Paul Tillich

What does it mean to you to hope against hope?

First Lenten Lunch of the Year

Rev. Gary Whetstone of Mountain Park UMC spoke at our first Lenten Lunch of the year. He discussed Psalm 51 and three questions that are universal: The question of our human condition, the question of who was the start of it all and what will be the outcome. Amy Wham prepared a wonderful lunch of chili and sandwiches. (However, I wonder if those cookies fit in with Lenten disciplines.) We sang a few hymns out of the Cokesbury Hymnal and had good conversations and fellowship.

Please join us next week when Rev. Ben Cathey will be our guest speaker. Enjoy a lunch and converstion and reflection as we focus on the spiritual meaning of this holy season.

Lunch is a voluntary donation and begins at noon.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Theme: God Has Done it
God Point: Psalm 22:23-31
Prayer Point: For building a House of Prayer and our communications committee
Service Point: Keep a journal of prayer concerns and celebrations.

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Theme: Covenant to Abraham
God Point: Gen. 17:1-7, 15-16
Prayer Point: For our Preschoolers, their Teachers and Melanie, our Preschool Director
Service Point: Call or tell someone Thank You for a Blessing you have received from them.

Monday, March 6, 2006

Theme: Saved through Water
God Point: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Prayer Point: For our confirmands and those newly baptized this year
Service Point: Tell someone the story of your baptism

Sunday, March 5, 2006

Theme: First Sunday in Lent
Day of Rest

Saturday, March 4, 2006

Theme: Baptise
God Point: Mark 1:9-15
Prayer Point: For the babies born this year
Service Point: Donate to or volunteer with Family Promise

Friday, March 3, 2006

Theme: Clean Hearts
God Point: Psalm 51:1-17
Prayer Point: For those who have sinned by adultery
Service Point: Forgive someone who has hurt you and thing of some way to be reconciled (Suggested service point.)

Thursday, March 2, 2006

Theme: Noah
God Point: Genesis 9:8-17
Prayer Point: For the peacemakers
Service Point: Write a card to someone serving in the Navy or Iraq

Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Theme: Repentance
God Point: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Prayer Point: For our own repentance
Service Point: Spend time in solitude each day, in prayer and study.